3 Best Cruelty-Free Concealers (Without Compromising Your Ethics)

From heavy circles to imperfections and blemishes, when it comes to our skin, it’s the little things that can make a big difference to our confidence levels.

Pimples, dark spots, and redness can really decrease our self-esteem, but at the same time, piling on layers of foundation can block pores and make our skin worse, plus, it’s time-consuming and doesn’t look the most natural. 

Concealer is a beauty staple because it can be worn with foundation, or by itself and simply applied where needed.

Concealers come in multiple colors, tones, consistencies, and applications, with some providing a light satin finish and others suited to those who want full, matte coverage.

However, then comes our second challenge: finding one that’s cruelty-free!

If you’re anything like me, you won’t be prepared to compromise on your ethics, so it’s essential that your makeup is cruelty-free, and your concealer is no exception. 

That’s why I decided to scour the web for the best cruelty-free concealers on the market, and, the great news is, some of the best concealers available right now happen to also be cruelty-free, so it’s a win-win! 

The Top 3 Cruelty-Free Concealers Summarised

Best Cruelty-Free Concealer Buying Guide

Concealer type

Concealer, just like skincare, needs to be chosen based on your skin type.

If you have dry skin, opt for a hydrating concealer, and avoid those that claim to mattify as this will only emphasize your dry patches.

Oily types should avoid concealers that are ‘creamy’ and enriched with oils, and in contrast to dry skin, oily skin types will benefit from a mattifying concealer. 

If you struggle with acne, creamy concealers may clog your pores and further aggravate breakouts rather than conceal them. 

However, creamy concealers do provide full coverage and are great for areas that need more correction, like the sides of the nose and corners of the mouth. 

In terms of the formula type, liquid concealers are best suited to all skin types, and work especially well for mature skin, as they’re more pliable.

They’re also good for that delicate under-eye area, as they’re less likely to sink into the thin and wrinkled skin and crease up. 

Cream-to-powder concealers have great staying power and can be used for long-lasting, buildable coverage.

However, the drawback of these concealer types is that they can be prone to creasing, as the powder finish sinks into those fine under-eye lines more. 

Choosing the right color

You’re not alone if you struggle to find a concealer to match your skin tone, as I’ve had this issue myself.

However, the good news is that more and more brands are taking into account the skin’s undertones as well as the overtone. 

You should consider this when selecting your shade - for example, is your undertone cool, warm, neutral, or olive?

Do you have more yellow and green undertones or red and pink ones?

Finding the perfect shade takes a little bit of experimentation, and some people may even need to use several different shades to get the perfect match.

Depending on how much you tan, you may also need to opt for a lighter or darker shade depending on the season. 

The color of your concealer also depends on where you’re using it.

For the under-eye area, you should select a shade of concealer that's no more than one or two shades lighter than your natural skin tone as this will give you an instant brightening effect without giving you a pale raccoon-eye look!

For the rest of your face, you can use a shade closer to your foundation, and, for highlighting or contouring purposes, you’ll want the concealer to be lighter or darker than your skin, depending on whether you’re trying to define or highlight. 

Coverage and finish

As we say, there are lots of different concealer types out there, and if you’re new to concealer you may be wondering what’s meant by coverage and finish. 

Full coverage concealer is for covering up the more obvious dark spots like under-eye circles and blemishes, whereas lighter coverage or natural coverage concealers are for those lucky individuals who just need a dab of concealer here and there. 

Satin finish concealers illuminate and highlight the skin, giving that glowy or dewy effect, whereas matte finish concealers do the opposite of this, and are designed to blend in with your skin and give shine-free coverage. 

Which finish you go for is a matter of preference more than anything, however, those with dry skin are best suited to satin finish concealers, and those with oily skin are best suited to mattifying concealers.

If you have ‘normal’ or combination skin, you can go for either, or use a combination! 

Applying concealer

• Before applying your concealer, it’s always best to start with a clean, dry face. Use a lightweight moisturizer and if you wish, a foundation or primer to lay down a base for the rest of your makeup. As with your concealer, make sure you’re using products suited to your skin, so if you have oily skin, a lightweight fluid with a soft, mattifying effect will work best.
  
  
• Some people apply concealer first and foundation second, whereas others do it the other way around. It’s completely up to you which one you chose, as there’s no right or wrong way unless you’re using powder, in which case it’s best to apply this after the concealer to set the liquid.
  
  
• When it comes to applying your concealer, you can use your finger, a brush, or a sponge to dab the fluid onto dark spots, discolorations, and blemishes and blend it out gently until there are no lines between your skin and your concealer.
  
  
• If you’re applying concealer to your undereye area to disguise dark circles, try using a concealer that has a radiant finish to illuminate the area. Or, alternatively, add a little bit of highlighter on top for a light-reflective finish that will further disguise dark circles. 
  
  
• It’s a good idea to set your concealer with a light dusting of pressed or loose powder, though this isn’t necessary if you’re using a matte finish concealer as it may make it appear dry and cakey.  
  
  
• Again, experimentation is key! Try different concealers, different application techniques, and different combinations of concealer and powder to see what makes your concealer last the longest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is concealer used for?

Concealer is basically used for covering imperfections on your face.

These can include under-eye circles, dark spots, pimples, and imperfections, redness and blemishes, and even scars or other marks you may be self-conscious about. 

Concealer gives more targeted coverage, whereas foundation is applied all over the face and provides a more even, all-over coverage. 

Where should I apply concealer?

You should apply concealer wherever you feel it’s needed.

The most common areas are those prone to redness, so the sides of the nose and around the mouth area, as well as various spots on the T-zone.

It’s also used under the eyes to disguise dark circles and can be used to target dark spots more generally to give a brighter and more even complexion. 

Can you wear concealer alone?

Absolutely!

In fact, concealer works really well when used alone to target dark spots and circles, and it’s ideal if you don’t like wearing foundation, as it allows you to conceal imperfections while maintaining a natural look overall.

In some ways, I believe concealer is more important than foundation, and if I had to choose one I'd definitely choose concealer, as it provides full, long-lasting coverage and a little goes a very long way.

It’s also great if you just want to use a BB or CC cream during the summer for a more lightweight feel.